GAME-BASED METHOD IN LEARNING ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES BY FUTURE SPEECH THERAPISTS

Abstract

Summary. Introduction. Learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is becoming an integral part of the professional training of future specialists. The goal of educators is to find methods and approaches to motivate and increase interest in studying the discipline. One of the methods that contributes to achieving the set goals is the game-based method. Games used in education are specifically designed for educational purposes or that have additional educational value. Educational games used in ESP classes aim to develop students' different language and speaking skills, as well as develop guessing skills, creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the effectiveness of using the game-based method when learning ESP, to study the opinions of scientific and pedagogical staff and students regarding educational games and their application in the educational process, to design the content of a course on ESP for students of Speech Therapy education programme and a set of educational games aimed at developing language and speech skills, guessing and creative skills and expanding knowledge about the world, their country, their city, and everyday problems of life.

Methods. The research was conducted by studying literary sources on the topic, particularly, the game activity and the game method, conducting a survey of scientific and pedagogical staff and students in the form of a questionnaire concerning educational games, attitudes to them, the use of the games in learning different courses, game forms, elements and effectiveness, studying the curriculum of the "Speech Therapy" educational program.

Results. The study shows the scientific and pedagogical staff, in general, use the game method of teaching with varying frequency, believe that game methods motivate and increase the interest of students in studying the discipline, reducing their level of anxiety. A significant part of teachers prefers business games, team games, noting that educational games can be used when studying various academic disciplines, while not attaching much importance to game elements. The vast majority of students note various advantages of educational games, prefer quizzes or guessing games, see a positive impact of game elements on motivation to learn better, prefer team (group) games, think that educational games do not interfere with the serious perception of the academic discipline, and would like the game method to be used when learning ESP.

Originality. The results of the research and survey were considered when designing a textbook and creating a set of educational games.

Conclusion. The educational games specially designed for educational purposes or have additional educational value. Learning a foreign language by students of special education is of particular importance, since the future professional activities of speech therapists quite often include game activities and the use of various types of games to achieve therapeutic goals. The proposed educational group guessing games using cards for use in the ESP classes are aimed at developing language and speech skills, as well as motivating students to learn a foreign language, making the learning process more interesting, creating a favourable atmosphere in the group, and reducing the level of anxiety. The students’ feedback after using these educational games indicates that the use of the game method achieves the set goals.